Washington excludes Mali from the new visa fee decision news

The United States announced a financial exception from the list of countries whose citizens are required to deposit a sum of up to $10,000 as a condition for obtaining an entry visa, weeks after the announcement of the decision, which sparked a mutual diplomatic reaction between Bamako and Washington.

On October 8, the US State Department listed Mali among the countries whose citizens will be required to make a financial deposit starting October 23, 2025.

Bamako quickly responded with a similar decision on the 11th of the same month, requiring Americans to pay a similar deposit before obtaining an entry visa to the Malian territories, starting on October 12.

A statement by the Malian Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the time stated that the decision was taken “in accordance with the principle of reciprocity,” stressing that the same conditions were imposed on the Americans as were imposed on the Malians.

However, on October 23, the US State Department published a modified list in which it excluded Mali from this measure, which was the same day on which the first decision was supposed to enter into force.

Bamako has not yet announced its position on the latest American move, which leaves questions about whether it will back down from imposing the deposit on the Americans.

African countries included

According to the amended list, Washington kept 6 other African countries required to make a deposit that may amount to $15,000 to obtain a short-term entry visa, which are: Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, Gambia, Malawi, and Zambia.

The US authorities say that imposing the deposit is based on the overstay rates allowed for holders of B1 (business) and B2 (tourist) visas, according to the US Department of Homeland Security’s report on overstay rates for the fiscal year 2024.